ICD: Clutter Quality of Life Scale (CQLS)

The Clutter Quality of Life Scale (CQLS) has been designed by the Institute for Challenging Disorganization (ICD) to help people assess for themselves the personally felt impact that clutter has on their well-being. The scale includes 18 statements. Please read each statement carefully and circle the response that best represents your feelings. Keep in mind there are no “right” or “wrong” answers. Your honest response to each statement is what matters.

When you are finished, please hit the Submit" button to view your score. This will come with the “Clutter Quality of Life Scale Description and Scoring.” Upon completion of the form, if you supplied your email address, then you will get a copy of your responses along with the scale description and scoring information.

Remember, it is important to answer each question honestly!

Please read carefully each statement below and consider each in terms of your personal experiences or feelings about the clutter in your home. Then, indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with each statement by clicking one number below each statement that best represents your personal experiences or feelings using the scale below where 1 = “strongly disagree” and 7 = “strongly agree.”

Are you a Professional Organizer or currently a client of a Professional Organizer?
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I'm a Professional Organizer taking the survey for myself I'm currently a client of a Professional Organizer I'm neither a Professional Organizer nor a client of a Professional Organizer

1. I’m concerned about what others might think of me if they knew about the clutter in my home.
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Strongly Disagree

Strongly Agree

2. I have to move things in order to accomplish tasks in my home.
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Strongly Disagree

Strongly Agree

3. I often buy things I already have because I don’t know where things are in my home.
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Strongly Agree

4. The clutter in my home upsets me.
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5. I avoid having people come to my home because of the clutter.
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Strongly Disagree

Strongly Agree

6. I try to avoid thinking about the clutter in my home.
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7. I don’t get to use spaces in my home the way I would like to because of clutter.
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8. My family life has suffered as a result of the clutter in my home.
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Strongly Disagree

Strongly Agree

9. I feel overwhelmed by the clutter in my home.
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10. I’m worried about the amount of clutter in my home.
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Strongly Disagree

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11. I can’t find things when I need them because of clutter.
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Strongly Disagree

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12. I have incurred debt I can’t really afford as a result of having too many possessions.
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Strongly Disagree

Strongly Agree

13. I feel guilty when I think about the clutter in my home.
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Strongly Disagree

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14. I have to be careful when walking through my home in order to avoid tripping over objects.
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Strongly Disagree

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15. I have neglected taking care of things that need to be done in my home because of the clutter.
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16. I don’t have family members over as much as I would like because of the clutter in my home.
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Strongly Disagree

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17. I have been late paying bills more than once in the past 3 months because they got lost in the clutter.
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Strongly Disagree

Strongly Agree

18. I feel depressed by the clutter in my home.
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Strongly Disagree

Strongly Agree

Demographics

The following questions will be used in aggregate form for classification purposes only. Your responses to these questions are appreciated, however you are free to decline to answer any question that makes you uncomfortable.